It was a success for the Red Devils

It was a start that Sir Alex Ferguson could not match.

In his first season as manager, Jose Mourinho and Manchester United managed to get two trophies (three, if you count the FA Community Shield season opener). One of the trophy is also a European trophy, even if it is not the Champions League.

The United squad rejoiced over the Europa League trophy, after soundly beating Ajax Amsterdam 2-0 in Stockholm

It took four seasons for the great Alex Ferguson to get his first trophy. It was, however, a time gone by when club managements have longer patience for failure. Even when the supporters were saying “ta-ra Fergie”, the club management, including the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton and Martin Edwards, decided to give more time. Fergie built a team from a bunch of drunkards into that craved for trophies time after time after time again.

The FA Cup and the Cup Winners Cup were some of his first trophies.

Consider what if the club cut its patience early. We may not be able to see consecutive title wins in the 1990s. We may not be able to see the historical European Treble in 1999. We may not be able to see 13 Premier League titles between 1992-2013. Amazing.

Some are saying that Mourinho’s first season a failure. A season where United finished sixth in the Premier League. A season where United’s finish meant United did not qualify for the Champions League. A season where United’s game went into draws. A season where United were slaughtered by Chelsea. A season where United needed to rely on an old Swedish by the name of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to carry the team on his aging shoulder. A season where United broke the transfer record for bringing home a player they ditched a few years past.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba, two newly-acquired stars in Mourinho’s side

Be that as it may. This same season was the season where United booked one of the best defensive records in the Premier League. United won the EFL Cup in this season. United also won the Europa League in this season. United also qualified for Champions League by this merit.

It is of course true that there is too many things to improve for United. The team need better players, better tactics, and even more important, better confidence. A fire seemed to have been exhausted when Sir Alex Ferguson decided to retire in 2013. There is no better time to reignite the spirit.

Mourinho is also looking like the perfect man for the job. I think throughout his career at Chelsea, Inter, and Madrid, ultimately, he wanted to work at United, and nowhere else. It is his most coveted job interview, and once he got it, he knew he needed to do something really special about it.

Two trophies are the very things that Mourinho need to bring confidence back to the team. If there is any other symbolic thing to denote a new start for United, it was the United-Chelsea match at Old Trafford later in the season. It was the best performance by a United squad I have seen in too many years. It was a tactical masterstroke, whereas a team, too dominant and champions-presumptive since the start of the season was soundly beaten by genius tactical approach, despite the fact that the players were said to be of lesser qualities than the opposition.

Say whatever you like, but I think the 2016/2017 season was a good season for United. It was not perfect, and many things to improve for the coming season. However, I think Mourinho has a Glaswegian blood deep inside his heart, and he is the true heir apparent of what Sir Alex Ferguson stands for.

I am also certain that next season, United will be a great squad that challenges for trophies. Hopefully I am right this time.